Men, tutus and ballet

MORRISTOWN — Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the dance troupe that proves that men can dance en pointe without falling on their faces, performs at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 to $59.

"The Trocks," as they are called, will perform excerpts from Swan Lake, a Pas de deux (or modern work to be announced), "Go for Barocco" and "Paquita."

Founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts. The Trocks, as the dancers are affectionately known, quickly garnered a major critical essay by Arlene Croce in The New Yorker which, combined with reviews in The New York Times and The Village Voice, established the company as an artistic and popular success.

Since the beginning, the Trocks have established themselves as a major dance phenomenon throughout the world. The company has participated in dance festivals in Turkey, Holland, San Luis Potosi, Madrid, Montreal, New York, Paris, Spoleto, Turin, and Vienna. There have been television appearances as varied as a "Shirley MacLaine special," "The Dick Cavett Show," "What's My Line?," "Real People," "On-Stage America," visiting with Kermit and Miss Piggy on "Muppet Babies," and a BBC Omnibus special on the world of ballet, hosted by Jennifer Saunders.

The Trocks also had their own solo specials on national networks in Japan and Germany, as well as a French television special with Julia Migenes. A documentary was filmed and aired internationally by the acclaimed British arts program, The South Bank Show, and the Company was featured in The Egg, the PBS program about arts in America. Several performances were taped by a consortium of Dutch, French and Japanese TV networks at the Maison de la Danse in Lyon, France, for worldwide broadcast and DVD distribution.

The original concept of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has not changed. It is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works in faithful renditions of the manners and conceits of those dance styles. The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance.

After recent appearances on ABC News and for the Prince of Wales on the Royal Variety Show, the dancers of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo have become more well-known than ever. For the future, there are plans for new works in the repertoire; new cities, states and countries to perform in; and for the continuation of the Trocks' original purpose: to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience. The company will, as it has done for thirty-five years, "Keep on Trockin'."

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information and tickets contact the box office at 973-539-8008 or mayoarts.org.